Conservation Is The Future -Relevance of Conserving Old Buildings

Conservation of historic buildings is not for the rich or for their memories. It must include the general public and community. The conservation process must aid in the livelihood of the community and blend with their lifestyle. It should not be a hindrance. Such a project is the Muziris and Alappuzha Heritage Project. The Muziris Heritage Project is the landmark project of Benny Kuriakose and Associates. Each project, from the magnificent Paliam Palace to the bustling Paravur market, was unique in terms of requirements and scale. Each had a common character that can be brought under the wide scope of Muziris architecture, which is a blend of multiple cultures that was brought about by the strong trade relations of the past and the colonizations that made an impact on the political and architectural scene of the port town.

At the same time, the Alappuzha Heritage Project had a different approach that focused on both conservation and development. The cleaning of the canal and developing a waterfront were the first steps before the conservation was planned. The conservation process involved resolving issues at the deep root level and helped build the community. The talk by Dr. Benny Kuriakose explains how a conserved building is the most sustainable and that it is better to reuse the whole structure than parts of it, through a diverse journey in his career as a conservation consultant.